Bomb Disposal

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions ammunition technical officers were called to viable explosive devices in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012;
	(2)  what the average response time was to bomb incidents by ammunition technical officers in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers to viable explosive devices across the United Kingdom is shown in the following table. Viable devices are defined as those which contain the relevant components and are built in a manner which suggests that they would have successfully detonated prior to Explosive Ordnance Device team action. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		
			  Number (1) 
			 2008 50 
			 2009 60 
			 2010 50 
			 2011 120 
			 2012 (at 21 May) 30 
			 (1 )This table does not show the total number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers—just those to viable devices. 
		
	
	Average response times are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.